Merchandiser, duties

On the pages of newspapers with ads you can often see the phrases: "you need a merchandiser", "we will employ a merchandiser with a personal car, you can be a student in a correspondence department". But what is hidden behind this beautiful foreign word, and what functions will have to be performed by the employee, not everyone knows.

In some ways, the duties of a merchandiser coincide with the duties of a sales representative. Both are interested in increasing sales of their goods, and, accordingly, in the growth of profits. On the other hand, the trade representative is more engaged in supplies, but the layout of products in the store is the merchandiser.

The duties of it on the one hand are simple: it is necessary to monitor that the goods of its firm are present in a sufficient range, and also be placed on shelves in the established order. That's what most often there are problems. Among representatives of firms-competitors there is a present struggle for the best places. Ensure that his goods are not pushed to the farthest corner of the lowest shelf, where he is unlikely to see a passing customer, should be a merchandiser. Its duties also consist in establishing friendly relations with the management and employees of the store, in carrying out promo actions, tasting, decorating stands, controlling the shelf life of products on the entrusted territory.

Do not interfere with his ability to drive a car and a personal car, because the work of the merchandiser is associated with travel. As a rule, one person should visit 10-15 shops a day. Sometimes it is assigned to an area in a metropolis, and sometimes a small city.

What else should a merchandiser do? The duties of this employee also consist in monitoring prices for competing products. As a rule, he must weekly or bi-weekly report on the firms-competitors: what products are presented, at what prices, what shares they hold. On its basis, management will decide on raising / lowering prices for its own products. Also, he should monitor the status of advertising equipment, for example, replenish the stock of leaflets and monitor the work and cleanliness of exhibition stands of his company. Ensure the presence of posters, stretch marks, shields, if damaged or missing, this employee must replace them with new ones.

What skills and personal qualities should a merchandiser possess? His duties are to work with the goods and with people, and, therefore, he must necessarily be communicative, be able to clearly talk about the product to both sellers and buyers. Merchandiser should easily navigate in the product range, be considerate, responsible, conscientious and accurate. It will not be superfluous to have a pleasant appearance.

As a rule, this position is just a step in the beginning of the career ladder. A person who for several years has successfully coped with his duties and carried out the set plan, can become a supervisor, in charge of which will be several merchandisers. Or become a sales representative - in this case it will be useful to all the contacts and connections. The work of a merchandiser involves part-time employment: four to six hours a day. The number of visits the higher authorities supervise on shop checks and periodically arranges checks. As a rule, the schedule of work is flexible - you can visit part of the shops in the morning, and a part - in the evening before closing. Employers usually require that the goods have been put in order, and at what time it will be done - it does not matter. So this work is an excellent option for students both full-time and part-time departments.